Women honored for service

Honorees deflected praise while scores came out to see them receive recognition for their work.

May 12, 2007|By Jason Wells

DOWNTOWN — Six women and one high school student spent most of their time Friday afternoon in a ballroom humbly deflecting praise for the countless hours of service they've committed to a myriad of local causes.

They were there to be honored by more than 350 people during the YWCA of Glendale's 10th annual Heart and Excellence Awards luncheon downtown at the Brandview Collection Restaurant.

"Every year we come up with a group of women who are just absolutely outstanding," said Brooke Moore, president of the YWCA's board of directors.

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Included in that group was Deborah Hinckley for her more than 30 years of volunteer service for a long list of organizations, from the National Charity League to the Philanthropic Education Organization and the YWCA itself, among others.

"Volunteering is just sort of a part of my life routine," she said.

All of the women echoed that sentiment and were blushed with humility that countless hours of work on behalf of women and children had been thrust into the spotlight.

"I do this as my duty," said Armineh Khanbabian, who was being honored for her work with immigrant students in the Glendale Unified School District. "I don't consider it as extra work."

But the YWCA begged to differ, also honoring Donna Mary Bullock Ziel for her work with the Girls Scouts, the Toll Middle School PTA, the National Charity League, the Glendale Women's Symphony Committee, United Way, the Los Angeles Department of Consumer Affairs and Grandview Presbyterian Church, among others.

Susan Hunt, coordinator for employment development and business partnerships for the school district, was honored for her work with the Glendale Educational Foundation, the YWCA board of directors, Glendale Council PTA and a half-dozen other community organizations, in addition to being involved in and organizing numerous summits and programs on ethnic tensions, gangs, violence and human rights.

Rosa Frommer was recognized for her work with the American Assn. of University Women and the League of Women Voters, as well as the mentoring role she had for dozens of young women.

Frommer shrugged shyly in the limelight amid hundreds of people before a program she hoped would also bring the spotlight on many of the programs the women work for.